1994 European Parliament election in Portugal

* * *

| <- 1989 | 12 June 1994 | 1999 ->

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|

* * *

25 seats to the European Parliament
Turnout| 35.5%  15.6 pp
|  | First party  | Second party

|
|

Leader  | António Vitorino | Eurico de Melo
Party  | PS | PSD
Alliance  | PES | EPP
Last election  | 7 seats, 28.5%[a] | 9 seats, 32.8%
Seats won  | 10 | 9
Seat change  |  3  |  0
Popular vote  | 1,061,560 | 1,046,918
Percentage  | 34.9% | 34.4%
Swing  |  6.3 pp |  1.6 pp

* * *

| Third party  | Fourth party

Leader  | Manuel Monteiro | Luis Manuel de Sá
Party  | CDS–PP | CDU
Alliance  | EDA | GUE/NGL
Last election  | 3 seats, 14.2%  | 4 seats, 14.4%
Seats won  | 3  | 3
Seat change  |  0  |  1
Popular vote  | 379,044  | 340,725
Percentage  | 12.5%  | 11.2%
Swing  |  1.7 pp |  3.2 pp

An election of MEP representing Portugal constituency for the 1994-1999 term of the European Parliament was held on 12 June 1994. It was part of the wider 1994 European election.

In the closest nationwide election in Portuguese history, the Socialist Party (PS) polled just less than 0.5 percent ahead of the Social Democrats (PSD). Nonetheless, it was a very strong performance from the Socialists, as they gained 6 percent more than in 1989, and also won three more MEP. It was also the first nationwide election victory for the PS since the 1983 general elections. At that time, the PSD was in government for nearly 9 years, under Prime Minister Cavaco Silva, but the party suffered little wear. The Social Democrats won 34.4 percent of the votes, a gain of more than 1.5 compared with 1989, and were able to hold on to the 9 seats they won in 1989.

The People's Party (CDS–PP), although losing some ground, was able to win back 3rd place with a very nationalist and anti-Europe speech. The CDS–PP won 12.5 percent of the votes, a drop of almost 2 percent, but maintained their 3 seats. The Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU) had a very poor performance, falling to 4th place, and losing both share of vote and seats. The Communist/Green alliance won just 11 percent of the votes, a drop of 3 percent, and lost one seat from the Ecologist Party "The Greens".

Turnout fell to all-time low levels, with just 35.5 percent of voters casting a ballot.

## Electoral system

[edit]

The voting method used, for the election of European members of parliament, is by proportional representation using the d'Hondt method, which is known to benefit leading parties. In the 1994 EU elections, Portugal had 25 seats to be filled. Deputies are elected in a single constituency, corresponding to the entire national territory.

## Parties and candidates

[edit]

The major parties that partook in the election, and their EP list leaders, were:[1]

* Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU), Luís Manuel de Sá
* Socialist Party (PS), António Vitorino
* Social Democratic Party (PSD), Eurico de Melo
* People's Party (CDS–PP), Manuel Monteiro

## Campaign period

[edit]

### Party slogans

[edit]

Party or alliance  | Original slogan  | English translation  | Refs

|
|
|

| PSD | « Europa Sim, Portugal Sempre »  | "Europe Yes, Portugal Always"  | [2]
| PS | « Connosco na Europa, os Portugueses têm voz »  | "With us in Europe, the Portuguese have a voice"  | [3]
| CDU | « Vota CDU: é melhor para Portugal »  | "Vote CDU: it's better for Portugal"  | [4]
| CDS–PP | « Viva Portugal »  | "Long live Portugal"  | [5]

### Candidates' debates

[edit]

1994 European Parliament election in Portugal debates

Date  | Organisers  | Moderator(s)  |  P Present  A Absent invitee N Non-invitee
PSD
Melo | PS
Vitorino | CDU
Sá | CDS–PP
Monteiro | Refs
|  |  |
5 May  | TSF | Maria Flor Pedroso  | P | P | P | P | [6]

## Opinion polling

[edit]

See also: Exit poll and Opinion poll

The following table shows the opinion polls of voting intention of the Portuguese voters before the election. Those parties that are listed were represented in the EU parliament (1989-1994). Included is also the result of the Portuguese EP elections in 1989 and 1994 for reference.

Note, until 2000, the publication of opinion polls in the last week of the campaign was forbidden.

Exit poll

Date Released  | Polling Firm  |  | PS | CDU |  | Others  | Lead

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |
12 Jun 1994  | 1994 EP election  | 34.4
9 seats | 34.9
10 seats | 11.2
3 seats | 12.5
3 seats | 7.1
0 seats | 0.5
12 Jun 1994  | Compta RH | 28.1–33.1
9 | 35.3–40.3
10 | 10.0–13.0
3 | 8.9–11.9
3 |  | 7.2
6 Jun 1994  | Euroteste | 31.0  | 32.4 | 11.2  | 10.3  | 15.1  | 1.4
6 Jun 1994  | Norma | 28.6  | 33.0 | 10.1  | 10.6  | 17.7  | 4.4
6 Jun 1994  | Euroexpansão | 28.2  | 39.5 | 7.2  | 7.8  | 17.3  | 11.3
21 May 1994  | Euroexpansão | 26.2  | 39.4 | 9.0  | 7.4  | 18.0  | 13.2
18 Jun 1989  | 1989 EP election | 32.8
9 seats | 28.5
8 seats[a] | 14.4
4 seats | 14.2
3 seats | 10.1
0 seats | 4.3

## National summary of votes and seats

[edit]

Summary of the results of Portugal's 12 June 1994 election to the European Parliament National party  | European
party  | Main candidate  | Votes  | %  | +/–  | Seats  | +/–

|
|
|
|
|
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| Socialist Party (PS)[a] | PES | António Vitorino | 1,061,560  | 34.87  | 6.33  | 10  | 3
| Social Democratic Party (PSD)  | EPP | Eurico de Melo | 1,046,918  | 34.39  | 1.64  | 9  | 0
| People's Party (CDS–PP)  | EDA | Manuel Monteiro | 379,044  | 12.45  | 1.71  | 3  | 0
| Democratic Unitarian Coalition (CDU)
• Communist Party (PCP)
• Ecologist Party (PEV) | GUE/NGL | Luis Manuel de Sá | 340,725  | 11.19  | 3.21  | 3

0 |

| Workers' Communist Party (PCTP/MRPP)  | None  | António Garcia Pereira | 24,022  | 0.79  | 0.15  | 0  | 0
| People's Democratic Union (UDP)  | None  | Carlos Marques | 18,884  | 0.62  | 0.46  | 0  | 0
| Revolutionary Socialist Party (PSR)  | None  | Helena Lopes da Silva | 17,780  | 0.59  | 0.19  | 0  | 0
| Earth Party (MPT)  | ALDE | \-  | 12,955  | 0.43  | new | 0  | new
| Politics XXI (PXXI)  | None  | Ivan Nunes | 12,402  | 0.41  | new | 0  | new
| National Solidarity Party (PSN)  | None  | Antunes de Sousa | 11,214  | 0.37  | new | 0  | new
| People's Monarchist Party (PPM)  | None  | Paula Marinho | 8,300  | 0.27  | 1.79  | 0  | 0
| Democratic Party of the Atlantic (PDA)  | None  | \-  | 7,127  | 0.23  | new | 0  | new
| Democratic Renewal Party (PRD)  | RBW | Manuel Vargas Loureiro | 5,941  | 0.20  | [a] | 0  | 1
| Unity Movement for Workers (MUT)  | None  | Carmelinda Pereira | 2,893  | 0.10  | 0.17  | 0  | 0
Valid votes  | 2,949,765  | 96.90  |
Blank and invalid votes  | 94,236  | 3.10
Totals | 3,044,001 | 100.00 | — | 25  | 1
Electorate (eligible voters) and voter turnout  | 8,565,822  | 35.54  | 15.56  |
Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições Archived 2021-09-17 at the Wayback Machine

| Vote share

|  |
PS |

| 34.87%
PSD |

| 34.39%
CDS-PP |

| 12.45%
CDU |

| 11.19%
PCTP/MRPP |

| 0.79%
UDP |

| 0.62%
PSR |

| 0.58%
Others |

| 2.01%
Blank/Invalid |

| 3.10%

| Seats

|  |
PS |

| 40.00%
PSD |

| 36.00%
CDS-PP |

| 12.00%
CDU |

| 12.00%

### Distribution by European group

[edit]

Summary of political group distribution in the 4th European Parliament (1994–1999)[7] Groups  | Parties  | Seats  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

| Party of European Socialists (PES)  |

* Socialist Party (PS)

| 10  | 10 | 40.00
| European People's Party (EPP)  |

* Social Democratic Party (PSD)

| 9  | 9 | 36.00
| European United Left (EUL)  |

* Portuguese Communist Party (PCP)

| 3  | 3 | 12.00
| European Democratic Alliance (EDA)  |

* People's Party (CDS–PP)

| 3  | 3 | 12.00
Total  | 25  | 25  | 100.00

### Maps

[edit]

* Most voted political force by district. (Azores and Madeira not shown)

* Strongest party by municipality.

## See also

[edit]

* Politics of Portugal
* List of political parties in Portugal
* Elections in Portugal
* European Parliament

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d The Democratic Renewal Party (PRD) elected one MEP within the PS lists in 1989. The party contested the 1994 election alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Comissão Nacional de Eleições - Deputados
2. ^ "Campanha eleitoral do PSD para as eleições europeias". RTP (in Portuguese). 31 May 1994. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
3. ^ "Pré-campanha dos partidos para as eleições europeias". RTP (in Portuguese). 20 May 1994. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
4. ^ "Campanha eleitoral da CDU para as eleições europeias". RTP (in Portuguese). 31 May 1994. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
5. ^ "Campanha do CDS para o Parlamento Europeu". RTP (in Portuguese). 3 March 1994. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
6. ^ "Debate com candidatos ao Parlamento Europeu". RTP (in Portuguese). 5 May 1989. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
7. ^ "Elecciones al Parlamento Europeo: Resultados por países 1979 - 2014". historiaelectoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 November 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Results according to the Portuguese Electoral Commission of the 12 June 1994 election of the 25 delegates from Portugal to the European Parliament Archived 22 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine

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